That's where you'll find me
Teresa Maida Cormack
18 June 1981 - 19 June 1987
Born in Napier, New Zealand on June 18 1981 was Teresa Maida Cormack. The first child for proud parents Kelly and Ross.
On June 18 1987 Teresa turned 6 years of age, she celebrated with a nice little party full of her favourite foods and lots of presents! The following morning [June 19] she told her mother she didn't want to go to school. Teresa pulled on an oversized red raincoat and left her home to walk the short distance to Richmond School. Teresa never made it to school. Some time around 9am Teresa vanished from the Maraenui street.
Her body was found 8 days later in a shallow shingel grave by a woman walking her dog on Whiraniki beach, 16kms from Napier. Teresa Cormack had been sexually assualted and suffocated. 3 pubic hairs were found on Teresa as well as semen taken from her body but in 1987 DNA tests were just being introduced and they DNA taken from her wasn't enough to be tested so that then wasn't a means to identify her killer.
Detective Sergeant Brian Schaab made a vow to Teresa as he guarded her body on the beach to find her killer. In 1993 Schaab was put in charge of the case that for over 6 years still remained a mystery - yet he did not give up, he kept the faith and focus of his promise to Teresa Cormack.
With DNA becoming a popular way of indentification the pubic hairs were tested and a DNA profile of the killer was founded. The long list of suspects narrowed down as suspects were eleminated and one name remained - Jules Mikus.
The road was long - nearly 15 years, but finally justice was dealt and a promise kept. Teresa Cormacks killer was arrested on Febuary 26 2002. The court trial started on September 30th 2002. On October 8th the trial finished and it took a grand jury less than 2 hours to find Jules Mikus guilty on her abduction, rape, sexual assualt and murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, preventive detention for rape, 14 years for sexual assualt and 14 years for abduction. Mikus has shown no remorse.
R.I.P Teresa - We Forever Love and Cherish You
Author: Ruth Ann Mahaffey
A Letter From Heaven
To my dearest family, some things I'd like to say.
But first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.
I'm writing this from heaven. Here I dwell with God above.
Here, there's no more tears of sadness; Here is just eternal love.
Please do not be unhappy just because I'm out of sight.
Remember that I am with you every morning, noon and night.
That day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through
God picked me up and hugged me and He said, "I welcome you
It's good to have you back again, you were missed while you were gone
As for your dearest family, They'll be here later on
I need you here badly, you're part of my plan
There's so much that we have to do, to help our mortal man."
God gave me a list of things, that he wished for me to do
And foremost on the list, was to watch and care for you
And when you lie in bed at night the day's chores put to flight
God and I are closest to you....in the middle of the night
When you think of my life on earth, and all those loving years
Because you are only human, they are bound to bring you tears
But do not be afraid to cry: it does relieve the pain
Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain
I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned
If I were to tell you, you wouldn't understand
But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is o'er
I'm closer to you now, than I ever was before
There are many rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb
But together we can do it by taking one day at a time
It was always my philosophy and I'd like it for you too;
That as you give unto the world, the world will give to you
If you can help somebody who's in sorrow and pain;
Then you can say to God at night......"My day was not in vain"
And now I am contented....that my life was worthwhile
Knowing as I passed along the way I made somebody smile
So if you meet somebody who is sad and feeling low;
Just lend a hand to pick him up, as on your way you go
When you're walking down the street and you've got me on your mind;
I'm walking in your footsteps only half a step behind
And when it's time for you to go....from that body to be free
Remember you're not going.....you're coming here to me.